Dr. Donald Browning. Courtesy photo.

Dr. Donald L. Browning
Aug. 3, 1932 - June 10, 2025

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Dr. Donald L. Browning, born on Aug. 3, 1932, in Oakland, California, passed away on June 10, 2025, after a brief illness. 

He was the beloved son of Roy Monte Browning and Selma Amelia Browning. 

When he was 3 years old his mother and aunt moved him to Lakeport, California. Dr. Browning was the first of three generations to attend school in Lakeport K-12.

His future wife, Louise Cordell, moved to Lakeport when her father, Reverend D. Glen Cordell, was called to serve at the Lakeport Presbyterian Church. They became high school sweethearts. 

Dr. Browning attended Oregon State University for two years before transferring to UC Berkeley, where he graduated. He then pursued his medical degree at UC San Francisco Medical School. During his senior year of college, in 1954, he and Louise married after she earned her Registered Nurse degree.

Dr. Donald Browning. Courtesy photo.


After completing medical school, he served as a physician in the US Army for three years at Ft. Huachucia, Arizona. He then went on to serve in Contra Costa County Hospital and Santa Clara County Hospital. 

Dr. Browning and his family returned to Lakeport in 1961. There, he joined his mentor, Dr. Charles A. Craig, in general practice. That same year, he and Louise welcomed their fourth child.

Dr. Browning served the medical community for over 40 years. He helped establish Lakeside Community Hospital. His very busy general practice included delivering babies, on rotation covering the emergency room and on weekends he even made house calls. He also volunteered as Clear Lake High School team doctor and provided sports physicals.

Dr. Browning was deeply involved in his community. He served on the Lakeport Unified School District Board, the Lakeport Community Bank Charter Board, Rotary Club and United Christian Parish. He was loved and respected by all who knew him.

He enjoyed stamp collecting, history, reading, spectator sports and traveling with his wife and family. He was an avid Giants baseball fan, often checking on a game's progress when he called in a patient’s prescription to his best friend and pharmacist, Steve Nicholls, during office hours. 


Dr. Donald and Louise Browning. Courtesy photo.

Dr. Browning was predeceased by his parents and his son, Steven Paul Browning. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Louise; sons, David (Peggy) and Mark (Emmy); daughter, Karen (Dale); daughter-in-law, Patty Browning; grandsons, Daniel (Abbi) and Ben (Rachael) Browning, and Marcus (Candice) Anderson; and great-grandchildren, Alton, Lucy, Vincent, Otis and Gwendolyn.

Dr. Browning was a humble man and a pillar of the community. He will be greatly missed. 

Thank you to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Hospice of Lake County and Dr. Kirk Andrus as well as his home care givers Amanda, Sara, Vanessa, Winter and Bertha.

Donations can be made to United Christian Parish Don Browning Memorial Fund, 745 N. Brush St, Lakeport, California 95453. 

A celebration of life will be held at Soper Reese Theater in Lakeport on Sunday, July 6, at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow at United Christian Parish Church. 

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.